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186th Paratroopers Regiment "Folgore"

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186th Paratroopers Regiment "Folgore"
186° Reggimento Paracadutisti "Folgore"
Regimental coat of arms
Active1 Sept. 1941 — 6 Nov. 1942
30 Sept. 1975 — today
Country Italy
BranchItalian Army
Part ofParatroopers Brigade "Folgore"
Garrison/HQSiena
Motto(s)"Impeto e ardire"
Anniversaries23 October 1942 - Second Battle of El Alamein
Decorations
1x Military Order of Italy
1x Gold Medal of Military Valor
2x Silver Medals of Army Valor[1][2][3][4]
Insignia
Paratroopers gorget patches

The 186th Paratroopers Regiment "Folgore" (Italian: 186° Reggimento Paracadutisti "Folgore") is a paratroopers unit of the Italian Army based in Siena in Tuscany. The regiment is part of the Italian Army's infantry arm's Paracadutisti speciality and assigned to the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore".[5][6][7]

The 186th Infantry Regiment "Folgore" was formed in September 1941 as the Royal Italian Army's second paratroopers regiment. The regiment was assigned to the Paratroopers Division, which was intended to parachute onto Malta during the planned invasion of Malta. In July 1942, the invasion of Malta was postponed indefinitely and in September 1942, the "Folgore" division was sent to North Africa to reinforce the German-Italian Panzer Army Africa at El Alamein. In November 1942, the "Folgore" division and its regiments were destroyed during the Second Battle of El Alamein. For its conduct at El Alamein the 186th Infantry Regiment "Folgore" was awarded Italy's highest military honor the Gold Medal of Military Valor.[1][2][5][7]

In 1975 the regiment was reformed as a battalion sized unit. In 1992 regiment was reformed.[7]

History

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185th Infantry Division "Folgore" deployment on the eve of the Second Battle of El Alamein (click to enlarge)

World War II

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See also: 185th Infantry Division "Folgore"

On 1 September 1941, the Royal Italian Army formed the 2nd Paratroopers Regiment in Viterbo. The regiment consisted of a command, a command company, the V, VI, and VII paratroopers battalions, and the 2nd Cannons Company, which was equipped with 47/32 anti-tank guns. The regiment was assigned to the Paratroopers Division, which was formed in Tarquinia on the same date. The division was one of the Royal Italian Army units assigned to the planned invasion of Malta and after its formation the division began with the training for invasion. At the time the 1st Paratroopers regiment consisted of the following units:[7][8][9]

  • 2nd Paratroopers Regiment[7][9]
    • Command Company
    • V Paratroopers Battalion
      • 13th, 14th, and 15th Company
    • VI Paratroopers Battalion
      • 16th, 17th, and 18th Company
    • VII Paratroopers Battalion
      • 19th, 20th, and 21st Company
    • 2nd Cannons Company (47/32 anti-tank guns)

On 10 March 1942, the Artillery Regiment for Paratroopers Division was formed and assigned to the Paratroopers Division, and five days later, on 15 March 1942, the 3rd Paratroopers Regiment was formed and assigned to the division. In July 1942, after the First Battle of El Alamein, the invasion of Malta was postponed indefinitely and the Royal Italian Army's General Staff decided to send the Paratroopers Division to North Africa to reinforce the depleted German-Italian Panzer Army Africa at El Alamein in Egypt. As the Paratroopers Division would operate in North Africa as an infantry formation, the division was renamed on 27 July 1942 185th Infantry Division "Folgore". On the same day, the 2nd Paratroopers Regiment was renamed 186th Infantry Regiment "Folgore", while the 1st Paratroopers Regiment was renamed 185th Infantry Regiment "Folgore", the 3rd Paratroopers Regiment was renamed 187th Infantry Regiment "Folgore", and the Artillery Regiment for Paratroopers Division was renamed 185th Artillery Regiment "Folgore". However, when the division deployed to North Africa, the 185th Infantry Regiment "Folgore" remained in Italy.[7][8]

After arriving at El Alamein the "Folgore" division was sent to the extreme South of the Axis line between the Deir el Munassib depression and the Qaret el Himeimat hills, where the impassable Qattara Depression began. At the time the regiment consisted of the following units:[5][7][10]

  • 186th Infantry Regiment "Folgore"[7][9]
    • V Paratroopers Battalion
      • 13th, 14th, and 15th Company
    • VI Paratroopers Battalion
      • 16th, 17th, and 18th Company
    • VII Paratroopers Battalion
      • 19th, 20th, and 21st Company
    • 186th Cannons Company (47/32 anti-tank guns)

From 30 August to 5 September 1942, the "Folgore" division participated in General Erwin Rommel's unsuccessful attempt to outflank the British Eighth Army at El Alamein in the Battle of Alam el Halfa.[11] On 29 September 1942, the British forces launched Operation Braganza against the paratroopers of the "Folgore" division, which, despite their numerical inferiority, managed to repulse the attack.[11]

On 23 October 1942, the British Eighth Army began the Second battle of El Alamein. At the time the 186th Infantry Regiment held the southern half of the "Folgore" division's position. At 10:30 am on 25 October 1942, the British 7th Armoured Division, 44th Infantry Division, 50th Infantry Division, and the 1st Free French Brigade launched an all out attack from three sides against the "Folgore" division. By 3am of 26 October, the Italian paratroopers had repulsed the attack and still held all their positions.[7][12] On 2 November 1942, the "Folgore" division was ordered to retreat westwards, even though none of the division's positions had been lost to the British. During the night of 2 to 3 November 1942, the "Folgore" division began its retreat, leaving 1,100 dead behind.[12] The division formed the Axis' rearguard and, on 6 November 1942, the remnants of the division were overtaken and surrounded by motorized British forces and forced to surrender. On 25 November 1942, the 185th Infantry Division "Folgore" and the division's regiments were declared lost due to wartime events.[5][7]

For their conduct and sacrifice during the Western Desert campaign at El Alamein the three regiments of the 185th Infantry Division "Folgore" were awarded Italy's highest military honor, the Gold Medal of Military Valor.[1][7][13][2][14]

With few survivors of the "Folgore" division the Royal Italian Army formed the CCLXXXV Paratroopers Battalion "Folgore", which fought in the Tunisian campaign on the Mareth Line. On 20–21 April 1943, the battalion was destroyed during the Battle of Takrouna.[5][7][9]

Cold War

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See also: Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore"

In 1952 the Military Parachuting Center in Pisa formed a paratroopers battalion, which then expanded to become the 1st Paratroopers Tactical Group, which consisted of the II Paratroopers Battalion and V Paratroopers Battalion. On 1 January 1963 the two battalions were assigned to the reformed 1st Paratroopers Regiment. On the same date the regiment was assigned to the newly formed Paratroopers Brigade, which on 10 June 1967 was renamed Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore".[7]

During the 1975 army reform the Italian Army disbanded the regimental level and newly independent battalions were granted for the first time their own flags. On 30 September 1975 the 1st Paratroopers Regiment was disbanded and its two battalions became autonomous units: the II Paratroopers Battalion was renamed 2nd Paratroopers Battalion "Tarquinia" and assigned the flag and traditions of the 187th Infantry Regiment "Folgore", while the V Paratroopers Battalion was renamed 5th Paratroopers Battalion "El Alamein" and assigned the flag and traditions of the 186th Infantry Regiment "Folgore".[7][15] The two battalions moved from Pisa to Livorno, but remained assigned to the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore". Both battalions consisted of a command, a command and services company, three paratroopers companies, and a heavy mortar company with towed 120mm Mod. 63 mortars and each of the two battalions fielded 879 men (41 officers, 95 non-commissioned officers, and 743 soldiers).[5][7][16]

In 1978 the 5th Paratroopers Battalion "El Alamein" moved from Livorno to Siena. In 1981 the brigade's Paratroopers Reconnaissance Company was reorganized as a standard paratroopers company and entered the battalion was 11th Paratroopers Company. From January to November 1983 personnel of the battalion was deployed with the Multinational Force in Lebanon. From May to October 1991 two companies of the battalion and two companies of the 9th Paratroopers Assault Battalion "Col Moschin" formed a tactical group, which was deployed to northern Iraq for the American-led Operation Provide Comfort.[7]

Recent times

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On 15 September 1992 the 5th Paratroopers Battalion "El Alamein" lost its autonomy and the next day the battalion entered the reformed 186th Paratroopers Regiment "Folgore". From 27 December 1992 to 8 June 1993 the regiment was deployed to Somalia for the American-led Unified Task Force. After the regiment's return to Italy it was awarded a Silver Medal of Army Valor for its conduct in Somalia.[5][1][7][3]

In March 2004 the regiment was deployed to Kosovo as part of NATO's Kosovo Force, when heavy interethnic unrest erupted in the province. The regiment intervened quickly and decisively to help quell the unrest. After the regiment's return to Italy it was awarded a Silver Medal of Army Valor for its conduct in Kosovo.[5][1][4]

Organization

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186th Paratroopers Regiment "Folgore" troops conduct airborne operations during Saber Junction 2019

As of 2024 the 186th Paratroopers Regiment "Folgore" is organized as follows:[17]

  • 186th Paratroopers Regiment "Folgore", in Siena[17]
    • Command and Logistic Support Company
    • 5th Paratroopers Battalion "El Alamein"
      • 11th Paratroopers Maneuver
      • 13th Paratroopers Company
      • 14th Paratroopers Company
      • 15th Paratroopers Company

The regiment is equipped with VTLM Lince vehicles. The 11th Paratroopers Maneuver Support Company is equipped with 120mm mortars and Spike MR anti-tank guided missiles.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "186° Reggimento Paracadutisti "Folgore" - Il Medagliere". Italian Army. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "186° Reggimento Fanteria Paracadutisti "Folgore"". President of Italy. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b "186° Reggimento Paracadutisti "Folgore"". President of Italy. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b "186° Reggimento Paracadutisti "Folgore"". President of Italy. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "186° Reggimento Paracadutisti "Folgore" - La Storia". Italian Army. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b "186° Reggimento Paracadutisti "Folgore"". Italian Army. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 573.
  8. ^ a b "I Reparti Paracadutisti Italiani (1939 - 1943)". Associazione Nazionale "Nembo". Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d "185a Divisione paracadutisti "Folgore"". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  10. ^ Bollettino dell'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico N.II-3 e 4 2002. Rome: Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico. 2002. p. 351. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Associazione Nazionale "Nembo" - La Divisione Paracadutisti "Folgore"". Associazione Nazionale "Nembo". Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Associazione Nazionale "Nembo" - El Alamein". Associazione Nazionale "Nembo". Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  13. ^ "185° Reggimento Artiglieria Paracadutisti "Folgore"". President of Italy. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  14. ^ "187° Reggimento Fanteria Paracadutisti "Folgore"". President of Italy. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica 12 novembre 1976, n. 846". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  16. ^ Stefani, Filippo (1989). La storia della dottrina e degli ordinamenti dell'Esercito Italiano - Vol. III - Tomo 2°. Rome: Ufficio Storico - Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito. pp. 1190–1192.
  17. ^ a b "186° Reggimento Paracadutisti "Folgore"". Italian Defense Ministry. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
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